Skip to main content

Full text of "New faunal data on lacewings (Insecta, Neuroptera) collected from Saudi Arabia"

See other formats


A peer-reviewed open-access journal 


Zookeys 936: | | |—148 (2020) 


Ch Re eae #ZooKeys 


https:/ / ZOO keys. pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research 


New faunal data on lacewings (Insecta, Neuroptera) 
collected from Saudi Arabia 


Agostino Letardi', Mahmoud S. Abdel-Dayem*?, Hathal M. Al Dhafer’ 


| ENEA C.R. Casaccia, Roma, 00123, Italy 2 College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud Uni- 
versity, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia 3 Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 
12613, Egypt 


Corresponding author: Mahmoud S. Abdel-Dayem (mseleem@ksu.edu.sa) 


Academic editor: S. Winterton | Received 8 January 2020 | Accepted 23 April 2020 | Published 28 May 2020 
Attp://zoobank. org/7 FODZABF- 1EB4-4439-B43F-EB1B142FD023 


Citation: Letardi A, Abdel-Dayem MS, Al Dhafer HM (2020) New faunal data on lacewings (Insecta, Neuroptera) 
collected from Saudi Arabia. ZooKeys 936: 111-148. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.936.49962 


Abstract 

This study presents new data on the lacewing fauna of Saudi Arabia based on field work performed be- 
tween 2014 and 2019. Sixty-one lacewing species from 37 genera and seven Neuroptera families were 
documented. Additionally, two species belonging to Dielocroce and Pseudomallada were identified only to 
genus level. Three of the identified species are new records to Saudi Arabia (Aspoeckiella gallagheri Holzel, 
2004, Bankisus maculosus Hélzel, 1983, and Nemoleon secundus Holzel, 2002). Another three species are 
new to the fauna of the Arabian Peninsula (Mantispa aphavexelte Aspock & Aspock, 1994, Omoleon jean- 
neli Navas, 1936, and Stylascalaphus krueperi van der Weele, 1909). The first reports of eight species are 
provided after their original description from Saudi Arabia; namely, Creoleon ultimus Holzel, 983, Cueta 
amseli Holzel, 1982, Cu. asirica Holzel, 1982, Distoleon asiricus Holzel, 1983, Geyria pallida Holzel, 1983, 
Neuroleon delicatus Hélzel, 1983, N. virgineus Holzel, 1983 and Solter buettikeri Holzel, 1982 Zoogeo- 
graphically, most lacewing species documented in the Arabian Peninsula are endemic (26.2%), followed 
by Afro-syroeremic (23.0%), Afrotropical (18.0%), and Afro-syro-iranoeremic (14.8%) species. Palaearc- 
tic species (4.9%) had the lowest contribution. 


Keywords 


distribution, endemic, new records, Neuroptera, Saudi Arabia 


Copyright Agostino Letardi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC 
BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 


112 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Introduction 


The Arabian Peninsula is located on the Arabian tectonic plate in northeast Africa, 
western Asia. Its fauna has different zoogeographical affinities (Larsen 1984; Holzel 
1998), as it lies at the convergence of three zoogeographical realms: the Palaearctic 
from the north, the Afrotropical from the southwest, and the Oriental from the east. 
The Arabian Peninsula covers a surface area of 3.2 million km’, and encompasses Bah- 
rain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen (Fig. 1). 
Saudi Arabia covers approximately two thirds (1,969,000 km”) of the peninsula and is 
considered to hold the richest biodiversity in it (Miller 1994; Mallon 2011). The key 
biological sites in Saudi Arabia include isolated mountain massifs, rawdahs (mead- 
ows), wadis (valleys), juniper woodlands, acacia woodlands, freshwater wetlands, salt 
marshes, mangrove thickets, marine islands, coral reefs, algal beds, and sea grass beds 
(Abuzinada et al. 2005). 

Neuroptera is a small group of insects that currently contains ca. 5,800 species in 
19 families (Oswald 2019). Nine families have been reported to occur in the Arabian 
Peninsula: Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, Sisyridae, Coniopterygidae, Mantispidae, 
Berothidae, Nemopteridae, Myrmeleontidae, and Ascalaphidae (the last two recently 
fused in a single family, see Machado et al. 2018). Saudi Arabia has an exception- 
ally rich fauna of aridophilic families, Nemopteridae and Myrmeleontidae, with stud- 
ies over the last 40 years documenting several new species (Meinander 1980; Hdlzel 
1982, 1983a, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004). For many of these species, the original 
description represents the only published data. Consequently, despite many studies 
documenting Neuroptera in the Arabian Peninsula over the last 40 years (Meinander 
1979; Hélzel 1980, 1983b; Sziraki 1992, 1997; Aspéck and Aspéck 1998; Sziraki and 
van Harten 2006; Saji and Whittington 2008), there is still a paucity of faunal surveys 
focusing on Neuroptera that could provide important distribution and ecological in- 
formation on this group. 

Over the last six years, new faunal unpublished records of lacewings have been 
gathered in Saudi Arabia. Thus, this study aims to provide new information on this 
group in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on poorly known and rarely collected species. 


Materials and methods 


The collection of samples was conducted between 2014 and 2019 at different locations 
in Saudi Arabia. Adult lacewings were captured mainly with light traps (LT), but also 
pitfall traps (PT), sugar traps (ST), and sweep nets (SW) were utilized. Specimens were 
preserved by desiccation or in 70% alcohol. They were then deposited in the collec- 
tions of King Saud University Museum of Arthropods (KSMA) (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) 
unless otherwise indicated (AL: Agostino Letardi collection). The species are presented 
in systematic order, by family and genus, according to Aspéck et al. (2001). 

For the examined material, the following information were verified: Saudi Province 
(in bold) followed by a colon (:), the name of the governorate, locality, geographical co- 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 113 


Mediterranean 


20° N 


20° Nj 


Indian Ocean 


700 km 


30° E 30° E 40°E 45° E oo E 99° E 60° E 
Figure |. Map of the Arabian Peninsula. 


ordinates (latitude, longitude), elevation (m), date of collection, capture technique(s), 
collector(s), number of examined specimens followed by sex (if determined) or “ex” (if 
the specimen sex could not be recognized because the abdomen lost or other reasons). 
The examined material was arranged by province, governorate, and locality name, in 
alphabetical order. Then, it was presented in ascending order according to altitude, and 
chronologically based on month of collection. When the records were from different 
provinces and governorates, a full stop separate them. A semicolon was used to separate 
different records. The governorate name was only cited at the beginning if the records 
were from the same governorate. Labels that had the same locality name, except for 
slight differences (such as elevation, collection date, collector/s), were listed jointly 
with the second label, specified with “ibidem”, and followed by a comma and the dif- 
ferent data. The global distribution was derived from Oswald (2019) and general range 


114 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


was sourced from Aspéck et al. (2001). A biology entry summarizes previous knowl- 
edge on habitat, host, behavior, etc., while a notes entry provides novel information on 
distribution, habitat, taxonomy, and other relevant data. 


Results 


Chrysopidae Schneider, 185 | 
Italochrysa bimaculata Halzel, 1980 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada AI-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 15 Oct 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
19; ibidem, 19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 1225 m, 17 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. 
leg., 14; ibidem, 2 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 12; ibidem, 19°50.710'N, 
41°18.267'E, 1474 m, 3 Nov 2013, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 14; ibidem, 14 Nov 
2015; LT,-All Dhafer*et-al: lee. 24; ibidem, 19°50.411'N, 41°18.686'E, 1611 m, 17 
Nov 2014, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 14; ibidem, 19°50.575'N, 41°18.691'E, 1666 m, 
3 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 12; ibidem, 5 May 2015, LI, Al Dhafer et al. 
leg., 12; Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22 ' 34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 
2019, LI, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 19. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Re- 
serve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 5 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 10; 
ibidem, 18 Nov 2015, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 14; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 
18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 4 Apr 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 13; 
ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 24; ibi- 
dem, 11-13 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 12 (AL). Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn 
Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, 
LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 16. 

Distribution. Africa: Senegal, Tunisia. Asia: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A 
polycentric Afrotropical species. 

Notes. ‘This species was previously reported as /. arabica in Al Bahah Province 
(Holzel 1980). The listed specimens were collected between 1,150 and 1,926 m eleva- 
tion and seem to be associated with Acacia woodlands and rocky areas with Barbary 
fig shrubs (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae)) in the mountainous areas of 
southwest of Saudi Arabia. 


Pseudomallada amseli (H6lzel, 1980) 


Material examined. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 
42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 49; ibidem, 19 (AL). 

Distribution. Africa: Ethiopia. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A pos- 
sible Afrotropical species. 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 115 


Notes. It was previously reported in the provinces of Al Bahah and Asir (Hélzel 
1980). The listed specimens were collected at 1197 m elevation in mountainous Acacia 
woodland areas in southwest Saudi Arabia. 


Pseudomallada arabicus (H6lzel, 1995) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na Amah), 
20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT; D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 42. and 30. 
Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 
1 Apr 2017, LI, D. Baiocchi leg., 89; ibidem, 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 
Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 99 and 26; ibidem, 19 and 1¢ (AL). 

Distribution. Asia: Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A possible Arabian endemic species. 

Notes. Pseudomallada arabicus was originally described from Fayfa Mountain in 
Jizan Province (Hélzel 1995). The listed specimens were collected in Acacia woodlands 
in the highlands (1150-1826 m elevation) of southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Pseudomallada spadix (Hélzel, 1988) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mandag, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na’Amah), 
20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT; D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 59 and 23. Al 
Mekhwah, Shada AI-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°51.682'N, 41°18.263'E, 1291 m, 29 Mar 
2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19; ibidem, 19 (AL). Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi 
Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 16. 

Distribution. Africa: Sudan. Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A possible Afro- 
tropical species. 

Notes. It was originally described from the provinces of Al Bahah and Asir (H6lzel 
1988). The listed specimens were collected in Acacia woodlands at low and mid eleva- 
tions (136-1826 m) in southwestern of Saudi Arabia. 


Pseudomallada venosus (Rambur, 1838) 


Material examined. Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 
18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool 
leg., 22 and 16. 

Distribution. Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia. Asia: Afghanistan, 
Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Yemen. Eu- 
rope: France, Portugal, Spain. It is a Palaearctic species. 

Biology. This green lacewing is generally associated with low vegetation in ex- 
tremely dry-warm biotopes, predominantly in steppes and semidesert-like habitats, and 
is quite common at light traps (Aspéck et al. 1980; Diaz-Aranda and Monserrat 1990). 


116 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Notes. This species was previously reported in several Saudi provinces: Asir, Al 
Bahah, Eastern Province, Madinah, Makkah, and Riyadh (Hélzel 1988). The listed 
adult specimens were collected by light traps in sandy areas with Acacia woodland at 
low elevation (451 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Pseudomallada spp. 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 
19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 12 and 
13; ibidem, 19°50.329'N, 41°18.604'E, 1563 m, 29 Mar 2017, ST, 14; Wadi Reyam 
(NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et 
al. leg., 39, 1¢ and lex. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 1 Apr 
2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19; 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m; ibidem, 
4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 29 and 24. Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn 
Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27'34"N, 42°42'53"E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, 
LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 29. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 
42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 49; ibidem, 19 (AL). Jizan 
Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, 
M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 2192 and 123), 19; ibidem, 14 (AL). 

Notes. Pseudomallada Tsukaguchi 1995 is one of the most species-rich genera 
within the green lacewing family Chrysopidae and is one of the largest in the order 
Neuroptera (Duelli et al. 2017). Holzel (1980, 1988, 1995) described several new 
species of this genus in the Arabian Peninsula; however, a revision of species in this 
zoogeographic area is not available, with species identification of specimens often be- 
ing difficult in preserved alcohol (as they are not always in good condition). Specimens 
were collected at elevations of 136-1926 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The listed 
adult specimens were captured in sugar traps in rocky areas with a Barbary fig shrub 
community, and by light traps in rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands. 


Chrysoperla carnea s. \. (Stephens, 1836) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mandag, Wadi Tourabah (E An 
NaAmah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 
19 and 16. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha, near Wadi Mashwas), 
18°10.293'N;°42°22.195'E,-1150.m,el Apr 2017; LI. M:S. ‘Abdel-Dayemi, leg.; 29: 
ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19. Jizan 
Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, 
M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 32 and 2¢. Riyadh Province: Hawtat Bani Tamim, Ibex 
Reserve Protected Area (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°2107'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 
Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 13. 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula Lib? 


Distribution. This species is widely distributed in the Palaearctic region, extend- 
ing to Afrotropical (Cape Verde, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) and Oriental 
(China, India, Nepal) regions. 

Notes. As reported by Hélzel (2002), knowledge about species, as well as the sub- 
species of C. phaenon in the carnea-group, of populations in the Arabian Peninsula 
remains unresolved. Hdlzel (1980) recorded this species in the Eastern Province, Ma- 
dinah, Makkah, and Riyadh provinces of Saudi Arabia. The listed specimens were col- 
lected from southwestern and central parts of Saudi Arabia, at elevations up to 1197 
m. Most specimens were collected from rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands. 


Brinckochrysa alfierii (Navas, 1926) 


Material examined. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 
136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1¢. 

Distribution. Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia. Asia: Israel, 
Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 

Biology. Practically unknown. Adults were collected on Tamarix sp. in sand dune 
and coastal dune habitats (H6élzel 2002). 

Notes. This species was previously reported in Riyadh Province (Hélzel 1980). 
The listed single male specimen was attracted to a light trap in sandy areas with Acacia 
woodlands at low elevation of 136 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Brinckochrysa chlorosoma (Navas, 1914) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na Amah), 
20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 14. Al 
Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 
2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 12 and 13; 

Distribution. Africa: widespread, Cabo Verde. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, 
Yemen. Europe: Greece, Italy, Malta. An eremic Afrotropical species. 

Notes. This species was previously reported in Makkah Province (Hélzel 1980). 
The listed specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations 
of 47-1826 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Chrysemosa andresi (Navas, 1915) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na Amah), 
20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 29. Al Me- 
khwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°51.682'N, 41°18.263'E, 1291 m, 29 Mar 


118 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


250 5 


200 5 


150 4 

10.0 5 

TH 

0.0 t t t t t t | t LI t a t a + a 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 


Zoogeographical distribution 


Species percentage (%) 


Figure 2. Zoogeographical composition of lacewing fauna in Saudi Arabia | afro-syroeremic 2 afrotropi- 
cal 3 Arabian Endemic 4 afro-syro-iranoeremic 5 Saudi Endemic 6 syro-iranoeremic 7 palaearctic 8 afro- 


asianeremic 9 asianeremic 10 Palaearctic-Afrotropical-Oriental | | syroeremic. 


2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 192; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 
Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 49 and 23; ibidem, 19°50.329'N, 41°18.604'E, 
1563 m, 29 Mar 2017, ST, 14; 10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 20°10.750'N, 
41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 23; Wadi Reyam 
(NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et 
al. leg., 72 and 83. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 
42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 39 and 34, 19; ibidem, 
13 (AL); ibidem, 4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19; ibidem,18°10.18'N, 
42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 22. Khamis Mushait, Wadi 
Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2, Apr 
2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19 and 14. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 
18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool 
leg., 19. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 
Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 39 and 13. 

Distribution. Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, Sudan. Asia: Iran, Oman, Saudi 
Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species. 

Notes. Chrysemosa andresi was recorded in Asir Province (Hélzel 1988). The speci- 
mens were collected at different elevations (136-1926 m) in southwestern Saudi Ara- 
bia. The listed specimens were caught by sugar traps set in rocky Barbary fig shrub 
communities and by light traps set in rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands. 


Hemerobiidae Latreille, |802 
Micromus sjostedti van der Weele, 1910 


Material examined. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 
136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19. 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 119 


Distribution. Africa: sub-Saharan Africa (widespread) to South Africa, Cabo 
Verde. Asia: Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A possible Afrotropical species. 

Notes. ‘The species was previously documented in Asir Province (Holzel 1988). 
The listed female specimen was collected at low elevation (136 m) in southwestern 
Saudi Arabia in a sandy area with Acacia woodlands. 


Mantispidae Leach in Brewster, 1815 


Afromantispa nana (Erichson, 1839) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An 
NaAmah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr. 2019, LT, D: Baiocchi et 
al. leg., 62 and 54. Al Mekhwah, Shada AI-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50.51'N, 
41°18.06'E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 109, 114 and 1 ex; 
ibidem, 14 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 12 and 1¢ (AL); Wadi Reyam (NE Al 
Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. 
leg., 62, and 24¢. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 
49°22 12 Eh 97 m; L137 Apr20192L 1D. Baiocchi etal vtec: 2Y-and 14; ibi- 
dem, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19 and 1¢ (AL). Khamis Mushait, Wadi 
Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, LT, 2 
Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19; ibidem, 2 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 
ikeye Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 
m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 12; ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 
42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19; ibidem, 18°06'57"N, 
42°13'55"E, 462 m, 12 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1. Jizan Province: Al 
Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel- 
Dayem leg., 22 and 20. 

Distribution. Africa: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Eritrea, Republic of the Congo, 
South Africa, Sudan. Asia: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. A possible 
Afrotropical species. 

Biology. Unknown. 

Notes. This species was previously recorded in the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen: 
Aden) as Necyla arabica (Navas 1914), now a junior synonym. ‘The listed specimens 
were collected in rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at different elevations 
(136-1926) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Mantispa aphavexelte Aspéck & Aspéck, 1994 


Material examined. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 
AP IZAZE, W197 m, VApr20177 LED: Baiocchi leg., 13; ibidem, 13 (AL); ibidem, 
11-13 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 14. 

Distribution. Africa: Morocco. Asia: Armenia, China[?], Iran, Kazakhstan, Mon- 
golia, Russia, Turkey. Europe: widespread in southern Europe. It is a Palearctic species. 


120 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Biology. Mantispa aphavexelte was previously found in ruderal areas and olive 
groves. The larvae parasitize spiders and feed on spider eggs (Aspéck et al. 1980). 

Notes. This study presents the first report for this species in Saudi Arabia. The 
three males were collected from mountainous Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 
1197 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Berothidae Handlirsch, 1908 


Nodalla eatoni (McLachlan, 1898) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°51.066'N, 41°18.037'E, 1325 m, 2 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 29; 
10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT} 
M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19. 

Distribution. Africa: widely distributed in northern Africa. Asia: Israel, Oman, 
Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 

Biology. Nodalla eatoni is found in semi-deserts with sparse low vegetation habi- 
tats, mainly in the form of isolated spiny dwarf shrubs, surrounded by extensive vege- 
tation-free sandy areas (Aspéck and Aspoéck 1983). 

Notes. The species was previously documented in several localities (Aspéck and 
Aspock 1998). The listed female specimen was collected in foothill Acacia woodlands 
at elevation of 554-1325 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Nodalla saharica (Esben-Petersen, 1920) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°51.006'N, 41°18.037'E, 1325 m, 5 Mar 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
24; ibidem, 2 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 12 and 14; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 
41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 12 and 14; ibidem, 
19°50.329'N, 41°18.604'E, 1563 m, 2 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 29. Asir 
Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 7 
May 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 29 and 14; ibidem, 18°11.695'N, 42°23.818'E, 
1897 m, 5 Nov 2015, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 12; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 
18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19; 
ibidem, 4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 16. 

Distribution. Africa: throughout northern Africa. Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, 
Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species. 

Biology. The biology of N. saharica is largely unknown, as with other Nodalla spe- 
cies. Adults hide deep inside sparse vegetation or crevices and under stones during the 
day; at night they are attracted to artificial light sources (Aspéck and Aspéck 1998). 

Notes. The species was formerly reported in several localities (Aspock and Aspéck 
1998). The listed specimens were collected in mountainous Acacia woodlands, Barbary 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula shez 


fig shrublands, and O. europaea communities at different elevations (1150-1897 m) in 
southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Podallea arabica Aspéck & Aspéck, 1981 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 
13. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 
1197 m, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 15° (AL). Jizan Province: Al Darb, 
Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Day- 
em leg., 19. 

Distribution. Endemic to Saudi Arabia. 

Notes. The species was previously recorded in Asir Province (Aspéck and Aspéck 
1981). The listed adult specimens were collected in sandy and rocky areas with Acacia 
woodlands at elevations of 136-1359 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Nemopteridae Burmeister, 1839 


Croce aristata (Klug, 1836) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 
19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LI, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 19. 

Distribution. Africa: widespread in northern Africa, Ethiopia. Asia: Israel, Oman, 
Saudi Arabia. Polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 

Biology. This species lives in deserted mines and caves, normally hiding under 
stones (Hafez and El Moursy 1964). 

Notes. It was previously collected in Riyadh Province (Meinander 1980). The list- 
ed female specimen was collected in foothill Acacia woodlands at low elevation of 473 
m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Dielocroce berlandi (Navas, 1936) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al 
Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LI, D. Baiocchi et al. 
leg., 12. Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06'57"N, 
42°13'55"E, 462 m, 12 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 59. 

Distribution. Africa: spread throughout North Africa, Kenya, Sudan. Asia: Israel, 
Saudi Arabia, Yemen. Polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 

Notes. It was previously collected in Al Madinah Province (Meinander 1980). The 
listed specimens were found in Acacia woodlands at low elevations of 462-473 m in 
southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


122 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Dielocroce chobauti (McLachlan, 1898) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al-Hamadah, 
20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19. 
Distribution. Africa: widespread in North Africa, Sudan, Somalia. Asia: Israel, 
Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A possible polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 
Notes. It was previously collected in Asir, Hail and Makkah provinces (Meinander 
1980). The listed female specimen was collected in foothill Acacia woodlands at an 
elevation of 554 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Dielocroce elegans (Alexandrov-Martynov, 1930) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al-Hamadah, 
20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 13; 
10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 19°50.47'N, 41°22.40'E, 630 m, 31 Mar 2017, LT, 
D. Baiocchi leg., 59 and 4¢. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve 
Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 
2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 339 and 266; ibidem, 19 and 1¢ (AL). Riyadh, NW Al 
Uyaynah, 24°53.33'N, 46°17.40'E, 761 m, 10 Apr 2016, LI, D. Baiocchi leg., 29; 
ibidem, 1 (AL). 

Distribution. Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, 
United Arab Emirates, Yemen. A Syro-iranoeremic species. 

Notes. This species was formerly reported in Asir, Makkah and Riyadh provinces 
(Meinander 1980). The listed specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia 
woodlands at low elevation (554-6761 m) in southwestern and central Saudi Arabia. 


Dielocroce sp. 


Material examined. 9. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected 
Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. 
Baiocchi leg., 19. 

Notes. This listed female specimen was collected at an elevation of 709 m among a 
huge number of D. elegans in sandy Acacia woodlands at low elevation in central Saudi 
Arabia. It might be D. berlandi (Navas 1936), but the poor condition of the specimen 


preserved in alcohol resulted in our identification only to the genus level. 


Halter halteratus (Forskal, 1775) 


Material examined. Riyadh Province: Al Aflag, Farshet Sheaal (NW Al Naiftyah), 
22°25.496'N, 46°34.544'E, 606 m, LT, 10 Apr 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 123 


ibidem, 22°24.381'N, 46°35.594'E, 596 m, LI, 12 Apr 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. 
leg., 1; Wadi Ghaihab (33 km N Layla), 22°19.601'N, 46°24.808’E, 460 m, LT, 10 
Apr 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 14. Al Zulfi, Rawdhat Al Sabalah, 26°21.522'N, 
44°59.011'E, 664 m, LT, 19 May 2015, LT; Al Dhafer et al. leg., 24. Hotat Bani Tamim, 
Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 
11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 29 and 94; ibidem, 19 and 1¢ (AL). Ramah, 
Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh), 25°25.943'N, 47°13.863'E, 572 m, 15 May 
2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19 and 14; ibidem, 25°22.986'N, 47°16.712'E, 559 
m, 28 Apr 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 33. Riyadh, Wadi Hanifa, 24°54.422'N, 
46°10.903'E, 809 m, LT, 22 Apr 2017, M. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg., 3d. 

Distribution. Africa: widespread in North Africa, Mauritania, Sudan. Asia: Af- 
ghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yem- 
en. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species. 

Notes. ‘This species was previously collected in Hail, Madinah, Makkah, and Ri- 
yadh provinces (Meinander 1980). The listed specimens were collected at low ele- 
vations (460-809 m) in central Saudi Arabia in sandy areas dominated with Acacia 
woodlands or Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton (Apocynaceae), or areas cultivated 
with wheat. Also, two males were collected from Acacia gerrardii Benth. (Fabaceae), in 


a gravelly area at Wadi Ghaihab, Al Aflag. 


Myrmeleontidae Latreille, 1802 


Goniocercus walkeri (McLachlan, 1894) (Fig. 3A) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°52.596'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 21 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al., 19; 
Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, 
D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 12 and 14. Riyadh Province: Al Aflag, Farshet Sheaal (NW Al 
Naiftyah), 22°25.543'N, 46°34.543'E, 589 m, 15 Oct 2015, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
12. Ramah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh), 25°25.943'N, 47°13.863'E, 572 
m, 28 Aug 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg., 16. 

Distribution. Arica: Kenya, Sudan. Asia: Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A 
polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species. 

Notes. ‘This species was previously reported in Al Bahah Province (Hélzel 1982). 
The listed specimens were collected in sandy Acacia woodlands at elevations of 
473-892 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia, and from communities of Acacia ehrenber- 
giana Heyne and Rhazya stricta Decne. (Apocynaceae) at elevations of 572-589 m in 
the sandy areas of central Saudi Arabia. 


Stenares irroratus Navas, 1912 (Fig. 3B) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°52.596'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg. DiS 


124 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 
467 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, 19 and 10. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 
42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19. 

Distribution. Africa: Egypt. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A Syroer- 
emic species. 

Notes. This species was previously reported in Makkah Province (Hélzel 1988). 
The listed specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low eleva- 
tions (16-892 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Fadrina formosa (H6lzel, 1981) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 
19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 19. 
Distribution. Africa: Egypt, Sudan. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An 
Afro-syroeremic species. 
Notes. This species was previously reported in Asir Province (Hélzel 1982). The 
listed female specimen was collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low eleva- 
tion of 473 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Centroclisis speciosa Hélzel, 1983 (Fig. 3C) 


Material examined. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.695'N, 
42°23.818'E, 1897 m, 28 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19. 

Distribution. Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Endemic 
to the Arabian Peninsula. 

Notes. C. speciosa has been widely reported in Saudi Arabia (Saji and Whittington 
2008) and was documented in Asir Province (Holzel 1983). The listed female speci- 
men was collected at an elevation of 1897 m in an Olea europaea (Wall. ex G. Don) 
Cifferi community. 


Myrmecaelurus lepidus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 


Material examined. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected 
Area, (W of Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, 
D. Baiocchi leg., 22 and 26; ibidem, 19 and 2¢ (AL). 

Distribution. Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia. Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia. A 
polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 


Biology. This species is poorly known and is usually reported in savannah habitats 
(Gutisten 2002). 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula iPass 


Notes. Holzel (1982) reported this species for the Riyadh Province. The listed 
adult specimens were collected at an elevation of 709 m in sandy areas with Acacia 
woodlands in central Saudi Arabia. 


Tranoleon arabicus HO6lzel, 1982 


Material examined. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected 
Area, (W of Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, 
D. Baiocchi leg., 82 and 143; ibidem, 292. and 2¢ (AL). 

Distribution. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. An endemic species to the 
Arabian Peninsula. 

Notes. This record is one of the five published localities where this species was 
collected in Riyadh Province (Hélzel 1982), with large numbers of specimens being 
preserved in collections. The listed adult specimens were collected at an elevation of 
709 m in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands in central Saudi Arabia. 


Lopezus fedtschenkoi (McLachlan in Fedchenko, 1875) 


Material examined. Riyadh Province: Al Quwaiiyah, Rawdhat Al Harmaliyah, 
24°17.433'N, 45°08.493'E, 796 m, 17 Apr 2015, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg. 
13; 24°17.864’N, 45°08.746’E, 786 m, 19 Apr 2015, PT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. 
leg. 13. 

Distribution. Widespread in southern Palearctic region. Africa: Algeria, Tunisia. 
Asia: Saudi Arabia. An Afro-syroeremic species. 

Biology. Lopezus fedtschenkoi is associated with desert biotopes. 

Notes. It was reported in Riyadh Province (Holzel 1982). These specimens were 
collected from sandy areas with Acacia (Acacia gerrardii and A. ehrenbergiana) wood- 
lands at elevations of 786-796 m in central Saudi Arabia. 


Gepus invisus Navas, 1912 (Fig. 3E) 


Material examined. Riyadh Province: Al Quwaiiyah, Rawdhat Al Harmaliyah, 
24°17.433'N, 45°08.493'E, 796 m, 25 Aug 2015, SW, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg. 
14. Al Zulfi, Rawdhat Al-Sabalah, 26°22.056'N, 44°59.136'E, 671 m, 29 Aug 2015, 
PT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg. 14. 

Distribution. Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia. 
Asia: Israel, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. A polycen- 
tric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species. 

Biology. ‘This species is associated with desert biotopes. 


126 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Notes. ‘This species was reported in the Eastern, Madinah, and Riyadh provinces 
(Holzel 1982). The listed male specimens were collected at elevations of 671-796 m in 
sandy areas with milkweed trees, Calotropis procera, and sandy areas with Acacia wood- 
lands, Acacia ehrenbergiana, and A. gerrardii Benth. (Fabaceae), in central Saudi Arabia. 


Solter buettikeri Hélzel, 1982 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°50.329'N, 41°18.604'E, 1563 m, 29 Mar 2017, ST, 14; Wadi Reyam (NE 
Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LI, D. Baiocchi et al. 
leg., 9 and 73; ibidem, 19 and 1¢ (AL). 

Distribution. An endemic species to Saudi Arabia. 

Notes. ‘This study presents the first report of this species after the original descrip- 
tion from Riyadh Province, based on two males (Holzel 1982). The listed specimens 
were collected by light traps in a sandy area with Acacia woodlands at low elevation 
(473 m) and by sugar traps in a rocky area with a Barbary fig shrub community at high 
elevation (1563 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Solter propheticus Holzel, 1981 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., iat 
Distribution. Africa: Egypt, Sudan. Asia: Israel, Saudi Arabia. An Afro-syroeremic 
species. 
Notes. The species was previously reported in several localities (Hélzel 1998). The 
listed male specimen was collected with light trap at an elevation of 1358 m in a rocky 
area with Acacia woodlands in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Cueta amseli Holzel, 1982 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
14; ibidem, 14 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 22; 19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 
1225 m, 23 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 39 and 24; ibidem, 2 Sep 2015, LT, 
Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19 and 26; ibidem, 17 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 49 
and 36; ibidem, 15 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 34; ibidem, 19°51.066'N, 
41°18.037'E, 1325, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 59 and 113; ibidem, 2 
Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 39 and 44; ibidem, 17 Oct 2014, UT, Al Dhafer 
et al. leg., 19 and 14; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apre2019, LIQ. 
Baiocchi et al. leg., 14; ibidem, 19°50.710'N, 41°18.267'E, 1474 m, 23 Aug 2014, LT, 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 27 


Figure 3. Habitus of lacewing species in Saudi Arabia A Goniocercus walkeri B Stenares irroratus C Cen- 
troclisis speciosa D Omoleon jeanneli E Gepus invisus F Neuroleon pardalice G Stylascalaphus krueperi Hi As- 
poeckiella gallagheri. 


Al Dhafer et al. leg., 92 and 73; ibidem, 2 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 39 and 
24; ibidem, 17 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19 and 23; ibidem, 19°50.411'N, 
41°18.686'E, 1611 m, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 59 and 93; ibidem, 2 
Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19 and 1¢. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah 
Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 24 Feb 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et 
al. leg., 12 and 24; ibidem, 5 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 22 and 24; ibidem, 
18°11.766'N, 42°24.315'E, 2285 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; ibidem, 


128 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 
APDIADES 1 19 7am, d, Apr 2017011 ,*D: Batocchi leg. 5;and 14; ibidem, 11-13 
Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 16. 

Distribution. Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An endemic species to the Arabian 
Peninsula. 

Biology. Unknown, possibly a pit builder in arid biotopes, like congeners. 

Notes. This record is the second locality published for Saudi Arabia, with it being 
previously collected in Asir Province (Holzel 1982), with a large number of specimens 
being preserved in collections. The specimens were collected from mountainous Acacia 
woodlands, Barbary fig shrubland, and O. europaea communities at different elevations 
(892-2285 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Cueta asirica Holzel, 1982 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 26 Jan 2015, LT; Al Dhafer et al. leg., 13; 
ibidem, 19°50.575'N, 41°18.691'E, 1666 m, 27 Jul 2015, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
12. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 
1614 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT] Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19 and 24; ibidem, 18°11.884'N, 
42°24.435'E, 2387 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; Wadi Marabah (WSW 
Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., LT, 
29 and 43; ibidem, 19 and 13 (AL); ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 
Apr 2017, LI, D. Baiocchi leg., 72 and 83. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al 
Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19. 

Distribution. This species is endemic to Saudi Arabia. 

Biology. Unknown, possibly a pit builder in arid biotopes, like congeners. 

Notes. ‘These records represent new localities, with this species previously being 
collected in Al Bahah Province (Hélzel 1982), with a large number of specimens being 
preserved in collections. The listed specimens were collected by light traps in Acacia 
woodlands growing on both sandy and rocky soils, and from Barbary fig shrublands 
and O. europaea communities, at different elevations (489-2387 m) in southwestern 


Saudi Arabia. 


Cueta lineosa (Rambur, 1842) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, 10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 
20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, S.A. El-Sonbati leg., 22 and 
14; Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, 
LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 13. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°51.56'N, 
42°16.21'E, 139 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 29 and 33. Riyadh Province: 
Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 
46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 22 and 56. Ramah, Rawdat 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 129 


Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh), 25°23.13'N, 47°16.45'E, 550 m, 9 Apr 2016, LT, D. 
Baiocchi leg., 1 (AL). 

Distribution. Africa: Egypt, Djibouti, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia; Asia: Afghani- 
stan, Cyprus, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Turk- 
menistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen. Europe: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, North Mac- 
edonia. It is a Palaearctic species. 

Biology. ‘This antlion species is common in deserts and steppe-like habitats on the 
southern edge of the Western Palaearctic. C. /ineosa larvae construct pits by digging 
traps in exposed conditions (Badano et al. 2018). 

Notes. ‘This species was previously documented in various Saudi provinces, in- 
cluding Asir, Al Bahah, Eastern Province, Jizan, Madinah, and Riyadh (Holzel 1982). 
The listed adult specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low 
elevations (139-554 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia and Rhazya stricta communities 
at elevations of 550-709 m in central Saudi Arabia. 


Cueta pallens (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al Hamadah, 
20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19; 
10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, 
LT, S.A. El-Sonbati leg., 1d. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 
18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 69 
and 53; ibidem, 4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 12 and 26; ibidem, 19 
and 1¢ (AL); ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LI, D. Baioc- 
chi leg., 269 and 53. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 
42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 19; 
ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 59. Jizan 
Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, 
M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Pro- 
tected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, 
LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 29 and 10. 

Distribution. Africa. North Africa (widespread), sub-Saharan Africa, Niger, Mad- 
agascar. Asia: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 

Biology. Cueta pallens is possibly a pit builder in arid biotopes, like congeners. 

Notes. This species was previously reported in Makkah and Riyadh provinces (Hé6l- 
zel 1982). The listed specimens were collected from sandy and rocky areas with Acacia 
woodlands at elevations of 136-1150 m in southwestern and central Saudi Arabia. 


Myrmeleon caliginosus Hélzel & Ohm, 1983 


Material examined. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 
42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19. 


130 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Distribution. Africa: North Africa (widespread), Cabo Verde (islands: wide- 
spread). Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An Afrotropical species. 

Biology. The larvae are pit-builders that are associated with sandy shorelines and 
wide, dry sand-covered habitats (Hélzel and Ohm 1983). 

Notes. This species was previously collected in Asir and Al Bahah provinces (H6l- 
zel 1988). The listed female specimen was collected from a rocky area with Acacia 
woodlands in the highlands (1197 m elevation) of southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Myrmeleon fasciatus (Navas, 1912) 


Material examined. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 
42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 11-13 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1 9. Khamis Mushait, 
Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 
Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 16. 

Distribution. Africa: northern Africa (widespread). Asia: Israel, Saudi Arabia, 
Yemen. Europe: Greece. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 

Biology. Myrmeleon fasciatus inhabits very warm and xeric biotopes, including 
deserts. The larva builds pits in sheltered areas, such as beneath overhangs and cavities 
of sedimentary rocks, in very fine detritus or sand (Badano and Pantaleoni 2014). 

Notes. This species was previously reported in Al Bahah, Madinah, and Riyadh 
provinces (Hélzel 1982). The listed specimens were collected from mountainous Aca- 
cia woodlands at elevations of 1197-1926 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Bankisus maculosus Holzel, 1983 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 
19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 1225 m, 17 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 29; ibidem, 
19°50.411'N, 41°18.686'E, 1611 m, 20 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; Asir 
Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 7 
May 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 14; ibidem, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
19; ibidem, 18°11.618'N, 42°23.420'E, 1772 m, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
19; ibidem, 18°11.679'N, 42°23.691'E, 1851 m, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
14; ibidem, 26 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19, 13 18°11.695'N, 42°23.818'E, 
1897 m, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 23; ibidem, 18°11.884'N, 42°24.435'E, 
2387 m, 31 Jul 2015, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 22; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha, near 
Wadi Mashwas), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Day- 
em leg., 192; ibidem, 4 Apr 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 192; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 
42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LI, D. Baiocchi leg., 32; 11-13 Apr 2019, LE, D. 
Baiocchi et al. leg., 12 and 14; ibidem, 16 Apr 2016, LI, D. Baiocchi leg., 23 (AL). 


Distribution. Asia: Oman, Yemen. An endemic species of the Arabian Peninsula. 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 131 


Notes. This study presents the first report of the species in Saudi Arabia. The speci- 
mens were collected from rocky areas with Acacia woodlands, Barbary fig shrublands, 
and O. europaea communities at different elevations (1150-2387 m) in the mountains 
of southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Omoleon jeanneli Navas, 1936 (Fig. 3D) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°52.596'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 21 Apr 2014, LT, H. Al Dhafer et al. leg. Lex. 
Distribution. Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya. An Afrotropical species. 
Notes. This study presents the first report of the species in Saudi Arabia and Ara- 
bian Peninsula. The listed specimen was collected in mountainous Acacia woodlands 
at an elevation of 892 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Geyria lepidula (Navas, 1912) 


Material examined. Riyadh Province: Ramah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Ri- 
yadh), 25°25.943'N, 47°13.863'E, 572 m, 28 Aug 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 
lex; ibidem, 28 Aug 2012, SW (on Rhazya stricta), M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., lex; ibidem, 
24 Sept 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., lex; ibidem, 25°22.986'N, 47°16.712'E, 
559 m, 28 Aug 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., lex; ibidem, 9 Sep 2012, LT, MLS. 
Abdel-Dayem leg., 2ex. 

Distribution. Africa: Egypt (including Sinai), Sudan. Asia: India, Iran, Israel, Sau- 
di Arabia, United Arab Emirates. It is an Afro-syro-iranoeremic species. 

Notes. ‘This species was previously recorded in Baha, Makkah, and Riyadh provy- 
inces (Hdlzel, 1982). The listed specimens were collected from sandy areas dominated 
with Rhazya stricta and Acacia ehrenbergiana at elevations of 572-559 m in central 
Saudi Arabia. 


Geyria pallida Holzel, 1983 


Material examined. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected 
Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. 
Baiocchi leg., 19; ibidem, 19 (AL). 

Distribution. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. An Arabian endemic species. 

Notes. This species was originally described from Eastern Province (Hélzel 1983). 
The new locality listed here represents a distributional extension for this species. The 
specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 709 
m in central Saudi Arabia. 


132 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Neuroleon asirensis Holzel, 1983 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 
292 and 2. Asir Province: Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis 
Mushait), 1926 m, 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., lex. Ji- 
zan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, 
LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 29. 

Distribution. Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. A possible Syro- 
iranoeremic species. 

Notes. This species was previously recorded in Asir, Al Bahah, and Makkah prov- 
inces (H6lzel 1983). The listed specimens were collected from Acacia woodlands in the 
lowlands and highlands (136-1926 m elevation) of southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Neuroleon delicatus H6lzel, 1983 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 
19°50.411'N, 41°18.686'E, 1611 m, 17 Nov 2014, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 42; Wadi 
Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi 
et al. leg., 29 and 33. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 
42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; ibidem, 18°11.679'N, 
42°23.691'E, 1851 m, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 12; Wadi Marabah (WSW 
Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19 and 14. 
Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 
2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19 and 14; ibidem, 19 (AL). Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi 
Reem, 17°51.56'N, 42°16.21'E, 139 m, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, 
LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19; ibidem, 3 Apr 2017, LI, D. Baiocchi leg., 19. 

Distribution. Asia: An endemic species to Saudi Arabia. 

Notes. This is the first report of this species since it was first described from Asir and 
Jizan Provinces (H6lzel 1983). The specimens were collected in sandy and rocky areas 
with Acacia woodlands and Barbary fig shrublands at different elevations (136-1614 
m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Neuroleon leptaleus (Navas, 1912) 


Material examined. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected 
Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. 
Baiocchi leg., 13. 

Distribution. Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia. Asia: Iran, Iraq, Israel, 
Oman, Saudi Arabia. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species. 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 133 


Notes. It was previously reported in Eastern, Madinah, and Riyadh provinces 
(Holzel 1982). The listed specimen was collected from sandy areas with Acacia wood- 
lands at an elevation of 709 m in central Saudi Arabia. 


Neuroleon lugubris (Navas, 1926) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 3 Mar 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 13; 
ibidem, 19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 1225 m, 21 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
292; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. 
leg., 29; ibidem, 19°50.575'N, 41°18.691'E, 1666 m, 20 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer 
et al. leg., 19. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 
42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 29; ibidem, 
18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LIT, D. Baiocchi leg., 29 and 13; 
ibidem, 19 (AL). Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 
18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19. Rijal Al- 
maa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N AI Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 
2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 12 and 14; ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 
42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 59 and 13. Jizan Province: 
Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. 
Abdel-Dayem leg., 29 and 2¢. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve 
Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 
2017, LI, D. Baiocchi leg., 59. 

Distribution. Africa: Egypt, Sudan. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A 


polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 


Notes. ‘This species was previously reported in the provinces of Asir, Al Bahah, Ji- 
zan, and Makkah (Hdlzel 1982). They were collected from sandy and rocky areas with 
Acacia woodlands and Barbary fig shrubs at elevations of 136-1926 m in southwestern 
and central Saudi Arabia. 


Neuroleon modestus (Navas, 1912) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al 
Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LI, D. Baiocchi et al. 
leg., 12. Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 
42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19. 

Distribution. Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali. Asia: 
Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An Afrotropical species. 

Biology. Neuroleon modestus occurs in grass savannas and grassy vegetation in cul- 
tivated areas (Michel and Akoudjin 2012). 


134 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Notes. This species was reported by Holzel (1988) as Neuroleon sociorum Holzel 
and Ohm in Asir Province. The listed female specimens were collected with light trap 
in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low elevations of 473-489 m in southwestern 


Saudi Arabia. 


Neuroleon pardalice (Banks, 1911) (Fig. 3F) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 3 Mar 2015, LI, M. Mostafa et al. leg., 19; 
ibidem, 19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 1225 m, 21 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 
14; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LI, D. Baiocchi et al. 
leg., 29. 

Distribution. Africa: Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan. Asia: Saudi 
Arabia, Yemen. An Afrotropical species. 

Notes. This species was previously reported in Al Bahah and Asir provinces (Holzel 
1982). The specimens were collected with light traps in sandy areas with Acacia wood- 
lands at 892—1358 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Neuroleon tenellus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°51.682'N, 41°18.263'E, 1291 m, 29 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem 
leg., 1¢. Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 
42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 59 
and 14; ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LI, D. Baiocchi 
leg., 172 and 16; ibidem, 19 and 1¢ (AL). Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 
17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 14; ibi- 
dem, 17°51.56'N, 42°16.21'E, 139 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 14. Riyadh 
Province: Riyadh, NW Al Uyaynah, 24°53.33'N, 46°17.40'E, 761 m, 10 Apr 2016, 
LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 29 and 1¢ (AL). 

Distribution. Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Morocco, Mauri- 
tania, Sudan, Tunisia. Asia: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Kyr- 
gyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. 
Europe: Greece, North Macedonia. A polycentric Afro-asianeremic species. 

Biology. Neuroleon tenellus is not well known and is usually documented in arid 
habitats. The larvae have not been documented (Aspéck et al. 1980; Badano et al. 2018). 

Notes. The species was previously documented in Eastern Province and Riyadh prov- 
inces (H6lzel 1982). The specimens were collected in Acacia woodlands on both rocky 
and sandy soils at elevations of 136-1291 m in southwestern and central Saudi Arabia. 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 135 


Neuroleon virgineus Hélzel, 1983 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al 
Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 
49 and 10; ibidem, 19 and 14 (AL). 

Distribution. Asia: An endemic species to Saudi Arabia. 

Notes. This study presents the first record of this species after the original de- 
scription from Makka Province (Hélzel 1983). The listed specimens were collected 
from sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low elevation of 473 m in southwestern 


Saudi Arabia. 


Distoleon asitricus H6lzel, 1983 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-AAla Nature Re- 
serve, 19°51.066’N, 41°18.037°E, 1325, 20 Apr 2014, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., ieee 
Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 
1614 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 14; ibidem, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al 
Dhafer et al. leg., 12; ibidem, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; ibidem, 
18°11.618'N, 42°23.420'E, 1772 m, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; ibi- 
dem, 18°11.679'N, 42°23.691'E, 1851 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19 
and 36; ibidem, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 12; ibidem, 18°11.766'N, 
42°24.315'E, 2285 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; ibidem, 31 Jul 2015, 
LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 14; ibidem, 18°11.884'N, 42°24.435'E, 2387 m, 28 Apr 
2014, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; ibidem, 6 Jun 2014, LI, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 29 
and 103; ibidem, 18°12.095'N, 42°24.536'E, 2578 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. 
leg., 12; ibidem, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; Wadi Marabah (WSW 
Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, MSS. Abdel-Dayem leg., 
1Q; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 10; 
ibidem, 12 (AL). Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, 
(W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baioc- 
chi leg., 12 and 24. 

Distribution. Asia: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. An endemic spe- 
cies to the Arabian Peninsula. 

Biology. ‘The listed records present further localities in Saudi Arabia from where 
this species has been recently described. 

Notes. It was previously reported in Asir and Al Bahah provinces in southwest- 
ern Saudi Arabia (Hélzel 1983). The listed specimens were collected from rocky areas 
with Acacia woodlands, Barbary fig shrublands, and juniper forest at high elevations 
(1150-2387 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia, and in sandy areas with Acacia wood- 
lands at an elevation of 709 m in the central regions of Saudi Arabia. 


136 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Distoleon laticollis (Navas, 1913) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mandag, Wadi Tourabah (E of An 
NaAmah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 
192. Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 
2 Mar 2015, LT, A. Mostafa leg., 14; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 
2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 19. Asir Province: Abha, WSW of Abha, Garf Ray- 
dah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 5 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer 
et al. leg., 12; zbidem, 18°11.679'N, 42°23.691'E, 1851 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer 
et al. leg., 19. Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 
Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 14; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 
1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 29. and 34; ibidem, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi 
leg., 13; ibidem, 13 (AL). Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 
42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 14. Riyadh Province: Ho- 
tat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 
46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 12 and 13. 

Distribution. Africa: Ethiopia, Sudan. Asia: Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Oman, Sau- 
di Arabia, Syria, Turkey. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species. 

Biology. Mainly unknown, associated with arid environments (Badano et al. 
2018). 

Notes. This species was previously recorded in the mountains of southwestern Sau- 
di Arabia, from Al Bahah and Makkah provinces (Hélzel 1982). The listed specimens 
were collected in Acacia woodlands in rocky and sandy soils and in rocky areas with 
Barbary fig shrub communities at different elevations (489-1851 m) in southwestern 
and central Saudi Arabia. 


Nemoleon secundus (H6lzel, 2002) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al-Hamadah, 
20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 59 
and 14; ibidem, 19 and 13 (AL); Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 
41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 19 and 40. 

Distribution. Asia: Oman, Yemen. An endemic species to the Arabian Peninsula. 

Notes. This study presents the first report in Saudi Arabia, with this species recent- 
ly being described from Oman and Yemen (Hélzel, 2002). The listed specimens were 
collected from foothill Acacia woodlands at elevations of 473-554 m in southwestern 
Saudi Arabia. 


Pseudoformicaleo gracilis (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 


Material examined. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 
42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., lex. (AL). 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 137 


Distribution. Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia. Asia: Iran, Israel, 
Lebanon, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. A 
polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species. 

Notes. ‘This species was previously recorded in east and southwest Saudi Arabia, in 
Eastern Province and Makkah provinces, respectively (H6lzel 1982). The listed speci- 
men was collected from mountainous Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 1197 m in 
southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Creoleon elegans Hélzel, 1968 


Material examined. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 
42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 29. 

Distribution. Asia: Israel, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria. Syro-iranoer- 
emic species. 

Biology. ‘The larvae possibly inhabit sandy soils, like congeners. 

Notes. This species was previously reported in central (Riyadh Province) and 
southwestern (Makkah Province) Saudi Arabia (Hélzel 1982). The listed specimens 
were collected from rocky areas with Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 1197 m in 


the highlands of southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Creoleon griseus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 


Material examined. Asir Province: Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N 
Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LI, D. Baiocchi 
leg., 16. 

Distribution. Africa: Egypt, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia. Asia: Afghanistan, India, 
Iran, Iraq, Israel, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen. Europe: Spain. A wide- 
spread polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species. 

Biology. The larva possibly inhabits sandy soils, like congeners. 

Notes. It was previously recorded in central Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh Province 
(Holzel 1982). The listed male specimen was collected from sandy areas with Acacia 
woodlands at an elevation of 192 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Creoleon persicus H6lzel, 1972 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al-Hamadah, 
20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19. 
Asir Province: Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 
18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19. 

Distribution. Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia. A Syro-iranoere- 
mic species. 


138 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Biology. The larva possibly inhabits sandy soils, like congeners. 

Notes. It was documented in northern and southwestern Saudi Arabia, in Tabouk, 
Asir and Riyadh provinces (Holzel 1982). The listed specimens were attracted to light 
traps in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations between 554-1926 m in 
southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Creoleon ultimus H6lzel, 1983 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19750 51° N,-41°18 0628. 1358 1m, 97 Apr 2079, Lie D. rBaioechi-et-al-tlegs 
19 and 1. Asir Province: Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis 
Mushait), 18°27.558'N, 42°42.876'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LI, M.S. Abdel-Dayem 
leg., 14. 

Distribution. Asia: An endemic species to Saudi Arabia. 

Biology. ‘The larva possibly inhabits sandy soils, like congeners. 

Notes. ‘This study presents the first report of this species after the original descrip- 
tion, based on one male and one female collected in Al Bahah Province in southwest- 
ern Saudi Arabia (H6lzel 1983). The listed male specimens were collected in sandy and 
rocky areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations of 1358-1926 m in the highlands of 
southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Ascalaphidae Lefébvre, 1842 


Ascalaphus festivus (Rambur, 1842) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Turubah, 20°14.369'N, 
41°15.234'E, 1757 m, 3 Jun 2012, H. Al Dhafer et al. leg., 39. Asir Province: Al 
Magardah, Wadi Al Talalie, 18°59.840'N, 41°43.910'E, 242 m, 1 Jun 2012, B. Kon- 
dratiff and H. Al Dahfer leg., SW, 19. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 
18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool 
leg., 14; ibidem, 18°06'57"N, 42°13'55"E, 462 m, 12 Apr 2019, LI; D. Baiocchi et al. 
leg., 1Q (AL); ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LI, D. Baiocchi 
leg., 34. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 
Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19. 

Distribution. Africa: widespread, including Cabo Verde and Madagascar. Asia: 
Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Europe: Italy. An Afro- 
tropical species. 

Biology. It is commonly collected with light traps in open savannah areas that are 
sometimes cultivated or grazed by cattle (Tjeder 1980). 

Notes. This species was previously reported in Eastern Province, Jizan, and Ri- 
yadh provinces (H6lzel 1983). The specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia 
woodlands at elevations of 136-1757 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 139 


Stylascalaphus krueperi (van der Weele, 1909) (Fig. 3G) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 24 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19; 
ibidem, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 19. 

Distribution. Africa: Algeria, Morocco (Abraham 2017), Egypt. Asia: Jordan, 
Syria. An Afro-syroeremic species. 

Notes. This species is a new listing for fauna in the Arabian Peninsula. The listed 
female specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at an elevation 
of 892 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Aspoeckiella gallagheri Holzel, 2004 (Fig. 3H) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°57.686'N, 41°18.262'E, 607 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19. Jizan 
Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°51.56'N, 42°16.21'E, 139 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, D. 
Baiocchi leg., 16. 

Distribution. Asia: Oman, United Arab Emirates. An endemic species to the Ara- 
bian Peninsula. 

Notes. This study presents the first report of this species in Saudi Arabia, which 
was originally described from Oman and the United Arab Emirates (Holzel 2004). 
The listed specimens were collected at low elevations (139-607 m) in sandy areas with 
Acacia woodlands in southwestern Saudi Arabia. 


Bubopsis hamata (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Re- 
serve, 19°50.51'N, 41°18.06'E, 1358 m, 14 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 19. 
Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area (W Hotat Bani 
Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 24 
(AL). Riyadh, Wadi Hanifa, 24°54.422'N, 46°10.903'E, 809 m, LT, 22 Apr 2017, M. 
Abdel-Dayem et al. leg., 12 and 2¢. 

Distribution. Africa: Egypt. Asia: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, 
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emir- 
ates. Europe: Greece. An Asianeremic species. 

Biology. It is frequently collected by light traps; adults tend to inhabit steppe-like 
habitats, and rocky grasslands with long stalks (Dobosz and Abrahém 2007). 

Notes. The species was previously reported in Asir, Madinah, and Riyadh provy- 
inces (Hélzel 1983). The listed specimens were collected with light traps in moun- 
tainous areas and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations of 709-1358 m in 
southwestern and central Saudi Arabia, respectively. 


140 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Tmesibasis larseni Holzel, 1983 


Material examined. Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature, 
19°51.066'N, 41°18.037'E, 1325 m, 24 Feb 2014, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 14; ibi- 
dem, 19°50.51'N, 41°18.06'E, 1358 m, 14 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 192 (AL). 
Asir Province: Abha, WSW of Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 
42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 24 Mar 2014, LT, S.A. El-Sonbati leg., 19; ibidem, 5 Sep 2015, 
LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 12; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 
1197 m, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 14 (AL). Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 
km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 
1Q. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 
2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 19. 

Distribution. Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An endemic species to the Ara- 
bian Peninsula. 

Notes. The listed records for this species extend existing published Saudi Arabian 
localities from Gizan, based on a single female specimen (Hélzel 1983). The listed 
specimens were collected in rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands and rocky 
areas with Barbary fig shrub communities at elevations of 136-1358 m in southwest- 
ern Saudi Arabia. 


Discussion 


Between 2014 and 2019, specimens of 61 lacewing species belonging to seven fami- 
lies were collected in Saudi Arabia. Also, two species belonging to Dielocroce and 
Pseudomallada were identified only to genus level. The families included are: Asca- 
laphidae (5 species), Berothidae (3 species), Chrysopidae (10 species), Hemerobiidae 
(1 species), Mantispidae (2 species), Myrmeleontidae (36 species), and Nemopteridae 
(6 species). This list includes six new species records for the country. Of these, three 
species are new records to the Arabian Peninsula: Mantispa aphavexelte Aspéck & 
Aspock, Omoleon jeanneli Navas, and Stylascalaphus krueperi (van der Weele). The 
other three are new records to Saudi Arabia only: Aspoeckiella gallagheri Holzel, Bank- 
isus maculosus Holzel and Nemoleon secundus (Holzel). Notably, Mantispa aphavexelte 
was recorded close to the southern boundary of its distributional range. This study 
also provides the first record for eight species since their original description: Creoleon 
ultimus Holzel, Cueta amseli Holzel, C. asirica Holzel, Distoleon asiricus Hélzel, Gey- 
ria pallida Holzel, Neuroleon delicatus Hélzel, Neuroleon virgineus Holzel, and Solter 
buettikeri Holzel. 

Many of the lacewing species documented in this study are characteristic of fauna 
from eremial bioregions (47.5%; Fig. 2), particularly Afro-syroeremic species (14 spp., 
23.0%), followed by Afro-syro-iranoeremic species (9 spp., 14.8) and Afrotropical spe- 
cies (11 spp., 18.0%). Three species were representatives of Palaearctic species (4.9%): 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 141 


Cueta lineosa (Rambur), Mantispa aphavexelte Aspock & Aspéck and Pseudomallada 
venosus (Rambur). Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) was the only species that had a wide 
distributional range (Afrotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic regions). These findings 
confirm that the lacewing species recorded in Saudi Arabia have strong relationships 
with the eremic fauna of North Africa (Afroeremic) and Asia (Syroeremic, Iranoer- 
emic, and Turanoeremic), as well as the Afrotropical fauna. The high percentage of 
eremic (Saharo-Arabian and Saharo-Sindian) components in the fauna of Saudi Arabia 
has been previously documented (Larsen 1984; Penati and Vienan 2006; Abel-Dayem 
etal 201-7; 2018; : 2019): 

A large number of species are endemic to Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Pen- 
insula (16 spp., 26.2%). Creoleon ultimus Holzel, Cueta asirica Holzel, Neuroleon 
delicatus Holzel, N. virgineus Holzel, Podallea arabica Aspock & Aspock, and Solter 
buettikeri Holzel, are known as endemic to Saudi Arabia. Ten species are endemic 
to the Arabian Peninsula, being distributed in Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United 
Arab Emirates, and Yemen: Aspoeckiella gallagheri Hélzel, Bankisus maculosus Hél- 
zel, Centroclisis speciosa Holzel, Cueta amseli Holzel, Distoleon asiricus Hélzel, Geyria 
pallida Hélzel, Iranoleon arabicus Hélzel, Nemoleon secundus (Hélzel), Pseudomal- 
lada arabicus (Holzel), and Tmesibasis larseni Hélzel. The southwestern region of 
Saudi Arabia is particularly rich in insect species (Larsen 1984; Abuzinada et al. 
2001; Ziani et al. 2019), reflecting the high number of endemic lacewing species 
that are mostly syroeremic species (Hdlzel 1998). A high percentage of endemic spe- 
cies to Saudi Arabia are emerging partly because current knowledge on Afrotropical 
and Oriental fauna is limited and partly because the Arabian Peninsula is in the 
transitional zone between Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions, as well as being close 
to Oriental regions. 

According to Oswald (2019), 170 lacewing taxa are known from Saudi Arabia in 
addition to six new country records from our study (Appendix I). We listed 61 species 
of the (now) 176 taxa known from Saudi Arabia, so we sampled and reported a little 
more than one third (34.7%) of the total known Neuropterida fauna of Saudi Arabia. 
The most prominent in our survey, is the absence of Coniopterygidae (Appendix I) 
which are very hardly to detect (a very small insects) without specific researches. The 
huge differences of knowledge of this family in Yemen (57 spp.) and Saudi Arabia (10 
spp.) is due only to the lack of a specific research of Coniopterygidae in Saudi Arabia. 

Despite a large number of studies existing on the lacewing fauna of the Arabian 
Peninsula (Meinander 1979, 1980; Hdélzel 1980, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1995, 1998; 
Sziraki and van Harten 2006; Sziraki 2010), including the current study, there is still a 
paucity of knowledge about the lacewing fauna in the Arabian Peninsula. ‘This issue is 
reflected by the rate of discovery of lacewing species in the Arabian Peninsula has not 
yet reached a plateau. The addition of lacewing species after more thorough sampling 
efforts is expected to provide more reliable biogeographical patterns on this group. 
Further studies on the lacewing fauna of Saudi Arabia should also focus on the biology 


and ecology of this group. 


142 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Acknowledgements 


We thank Daniele Baiocchi, Gianluca Magnani, and Pierpaolo Rapuzzi for allowing us 
to study specimens collected during their research. Thanks to Davide Badano (Univer- 
sita degli studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy) for providing suggestions, identifications, and 
information. We thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University, 
Saudi Arabia, for funding this research (RGP—1438-082). 


References 


Abdel-Dayem MS, Fadl HH, El-Torkey AM, Elgharbawy AA, Aldryhim YN, Kondratieff BC, 
Al Ansi AN, Aldhafer HM (2017) The beetle fauna (Insecta, Coleoptera) of the Raw- 
dhat Khorim National Park, Central Saudi Arabia. ZooKeys 653: 1-78. https://doi. 
org/10.3897/zookeys.653.10252 

Abdel-Dayem MS, Rasool I, Elgharbawy AA, Nagel P, Aldhafer HM (2018) Faunistic inven- 
tory and zoogeographical analysis of the ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of Garf 
Raydah Nature Reserve, Southwestern of Saudi Arabia, and description of a new species of 
Paussinae. Zootaxa 4514(3): 341-371. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.45 14.3.3 

Abdel-Dayem MS, Elgharbawy AA, Rasool I, Nagel P, Aldhafer HM (2019) The Carabidae 
(Coleoptera) of Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, Southwestern Saudi Arabia, with descrip- 
tion of a new species of Paussinae. ZooKeys 812: 93-131. https://doi.org/10.3897/zook- 
eys.812.30937 

Abraham L (2017) New data to the Moroccan Myrmeleontiformia (Nemopteridae, Myrmele- 
ontidae, Ascalaphidae) fauna. Natura Somogyiensis 30: 75-138. http://smmi.hu/termtud/ 
ns/ns30/75-138_Abraham.pdf [2019-9-18] 

Abuzinada AH, Al-Wetaid YI, Al-Basyouni SZM (2005) Convention on Biological Diversity. 
The National Strategy for Conservation of Biodiversity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 
The National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Riyadh, Saudi 
Arabia, 94 pp. https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/sa/sa-nbsap-01-en.pdf [2019-8-23] 

Aspock H, Aspéck U, Hélzel H (1980) Die Neuropteren Europas. Eine zusammenfassende 
Darstellung der Systematik, Okologie und Chorologie der Neuropteroidea (Megaloptera, 
Raphidioptera, Planipennia) Europas. Goecke and Evers, Krefeld, 355 pp. 

Aspoéck U, Aspéck H (1981) Das genus Podallea Navas, 1936 (Neuropteroidea: Planipennia: 
Berothidae). Zeitschrift der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Osterreichischer Entomologen 32: 81— 
96. https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/ZAOE_32_0081-0096.pdf [2019-9-15] 

Aspoéck U, Aspock H (1984) Zur Kenntnis des Genus Sphaeroberotha Navas, 1930 (Neuropter- 
oidea: Planipennia: Berothidae). Zeitschrift der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Osterreichischer Ento- 
mologen 35: 65-83. https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/ZAOE_35_0065-0083.pdf [2019-9-15] 

Aspock U, Aspéck H (1998) Intra- und interspezifische Differenzierungen im Genus Nod- 
alla (Neuroptera: Berothidae) im Eremial der Westpalaarktis. Entomologia Generalis 23: 
39-76. https://doi.org/10.1127/entom.gen/23/1998/39 

Aspock H, Hélzel H, Aspéck U (2001) Kommentierter Katalog der Neuropterida (Insecta: 
Raphidioptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera) der Westpalaarktis. Denisia 2: 1-606. https:// 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 143 


lacewing.tamu.edu/neuropterida/neur_bibliography/edoc12/aspock200 1lref9847-17575. 
pdf [2019-9-15] 

Badano D, Pantaleoni RA (2014) The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera). 
Zootaxa 3762: 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1 

Badano D, Makris C, John E, Hadjicostantis M, Sparrow D, Sparrow R, Thomas B, Devetak 
D (2018) The antlions of Cyprus: review and new reports (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). 
Fragmenta Entomologica 50(2): 95-102. https://doi.org/10.408 1/fe.2018.307 

Diaz-Aranda LM, Monserrat VJ (1990) Estadios larvarios de los neuropteros ibericos. VU. 
Mallada venosus (Rambur, 1842) (Planipennia: Chrysopidae). Neuroptera International 
6(2): 95— 105. 

Dobosz R, Abrah4m L (2007) New data to the Turkish ascalaphid fauna (Neuroptera: Ascalaphi- 
dae). Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Entomology 14-15: 13-27. https:// 
lacewing.tamu.edu/neuropterida/neur_bibliography/edoc12/dobosz2007 ref1 2040-6784. 
pdf [2019-9-15] 

Duelli PR, Henry CS, Hayashi M, Nomura M, Mochizuki A (2017) Molecular phylogeny and 
morphology of Pseudomallada (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), one of the largest genera within 
Chrysopidae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 180(3): 556-569. https://doi. 
org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlw008 

Ehrenberg CG (1828-1845) Symbolae physicae, seu icones et descriptiones corporum natura- 
lium novorum aut minus cognitorum, quae ex itineribus per Libyam, Aegyptum, Nubiam, 
Dongalam, Syriam, Arabiam et Habessiniam a P. C. Hemprich et C. G. Ehrenberg a stu- 
dio annis 1820-25 redierunt a pars Zoologica, C. G. Ehrenberg, ed. Berolini. https://doi. 
org/10.5962/bhI. title. 107403 

Giisten R (2002) Antlion assemblages (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) of two arid habitats in 
Tunisia. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 48 (Suppl. 2): 99-120. http:// 
actazool.nhmus.hu/48Suppl2/gusten. pdf [2019-9-15] 

Hafez M, El-Moursy AA (1964) On the biology of Klugina aristata Klug (Neuroptera: Nemop- 
teridae). Bulletin de la Société Royale Entomologique d’Egypte 48: 183-191. 

Holzel H (1980) Insects of Saudi Arabia. Neuroptera: Fam. Chrysopidae. Fauna of Saudi Ara- 
bia 2: 164-173. 

Holzel H (1982) Insects of Saudi Arabia. Neuroptera: Fam. Myrmeleontidae. Fauna of Saudi 
Arabia 4: 244-270. 

Holzel H (1983a) Insect of Saudi Arabia. Neuroptera: Fam. Myrmeleontidae (Part 2). Fauna of 
Saudi Arabia 5: 210-234. 

Holzel H (1983b) Insect of Saudi Arabia. Neuroptera: Fam. Ascalaphidae. Fauna of Saudi 
Arabia 5: 235-239. 

Holzel H (1988) Insect of Saudi Arabia. Neuroptera: Fam Sisyridae, Hemerobiidae, Chrysopi- 
dae (Part 2) and Myrmeleontidae (Part 3). Fauna of Saudi Arabia 9: 52-67. 

Holzel H (1995) Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Neuropteren der Arabischen Halbinsel 1. Chrysopi- 
dae und Hemerobiidae von Oman und Yemen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae). 
Entomofauna 16(25): 437-452. https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/ENT_0016_0437-0452.pdf 
[2019.9: 1.2] 

Holzel H (1998) Zoogeographical features of Neuroptera of the Arabian Peninsula. In: Pan- 
elius SP (Ed.) Neuropterology 1997. Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium 


144 Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


on Neuropterology (13-16 July 1997, Helsinki, Finland). Acta Zoologica Fennica 209: 
129-140. 

Holzel H (1999) The Nemopterids (spoon-winged lacewings and thread-winged lacewings) 
of Arabia. A contribution to the knowledge of the Neuropterida of the Arabian Peninsula 
(Neuropterida: Neuroptera: Nemopteridae). Stapfia 60: 129-146. 

Holzel H (2001) Neue Taxa der Myrmeleontidae aus Arabien (Insecta: Neuroptera). Linzer 
Biologische Beitrage 33: 977-988. 

Holzel H (2002) Neuroptera collected by the German Yemen expeditions 1996, 1998 und [sic] 
2000 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, Berothidae, Mantispidae, Nemopteridae, 
Myrmeleontidae, Ascalaphidae). Esperiana 9: 129-146. 

Holzel H (2004) Ascalaphidae der Arabischen Halbinsel (Neuropterida, Neuroptera, Asca- 
laphidae). In: Aspéck U (Eds) Entomologie und Parasitologie — Festschrift zum 65. Ge- 
burtstag von Horst Aspéck. Denisia 13: 213-228. 

Holzel H, Ohm P (1983) Drei neue Myrmeleoniden-Spezies von den Kapverdischen Inseln 
(Neuropteroidea, Planipennia). Entomofauna 4: 237-252. https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/ 
ENT_0004_0237-0252.pdf [2019-9-12] 

Larsen TB (1984) The zoogeographical composition and distribution of the Arabian butter- 
flies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera). Journal of Biogeography 11(2): 119-158. https://doi. 
org/10.2307/2844685 

Machado RJP, Gillung JP, Winterton SL, Garzén-Ordufa IJ, Lemmon AR, Lemmon EM, 
Oswald JD (2018) Owlflies are derived antlions: anchored phylogenomics supports a new 
phylogeny and classification of Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera). Systematic Entomology 
44(2): 418-450. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12334 

Mallon DP (2011) Global hotspots in the Arabian Peninsula. Zoology in the Middle East 
54(sup3): 13-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2011.10648896 

Meinander M (1979) Insects of Saudi Arabia. Neuroptera: Fam. Coniopterygidae. Fauna of 
Saudi Arabia 1: 334-341. 

Meinander M (1980) Insects of Saudi Arabia. Neuroptera: Fam. Nemopteridae. Fauna of Saudi 
Arabia 2: 174-178. 

Michel B, Akoudjin M (2012) Review of Neuroleon Navas of West Africa with descriptions 
of four new species (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Zootaxa 3519: 32-52. https://doi. 
org/10.11646/zootaxa.3519.1.2 

Miller AG (1994) Highlands of south-western Arabia: Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Centres of 
plant diversity 1: 317-319. 

Navas L (1914) Neurdpteros nuevos o poco conocidos (Tercera [III] serie). Memorias de la Real 
Academia de Ciencias y Artes de Barcelona (3)11: 193-215. 

Oswald JD (2019) Neuropterida Species of the World. Version 6.6. http://lacewing.tamu.edu/ 
SpeciesCatalog/Main [2019-10-22] 

Penati F. Vienna P (2006) An updated catalogue of the Histeridae (Insecta: Coleoptera) of 
the Arabian Peninsula, with biogeographical remarks. Zootaxa 1157(1): 1-74. https://doi. 
org/10.11646/zootaxa.1157.1.1 

Saji A, Whittington AE (2008) Ant-lion fauna recorded in the Abu Dhabi Emirate (Neurop- 
tera: Myrmeleontidae). Zoology in the Middle East 44: 83-100. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 
09397 140.2008.10638292 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 145 


Sziraki G (1992) Coniopterygidae from Yemen (Neuroptera). Acta Zoologica Hungarica 38: 
89-94. 

Sziraki G (1997) Data to the coniopterygid fauna of Yemen, with description of twelve new 
species (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae). Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungari- 
cae 43: 271-294. 

Sziraki G (2010) Order Neuroptera, family Coniopterygidae. Arthropod fauna of the United 
Arab Emirates 3: 283-298. 

Sziraki G, van Harten A (2006) The dusty lacewings (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) of the 
Arabian Peninsula. Fauna of Arabia 22: 381-434. 

Tjeder B (1980) Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera) from Senegal and the Gambia. Entomologica 
Scandinavica 11: 401-412. https://doi.org/10.1163/1876312807947 10006 

Ziani S, Abdel-Dayem MS, Aldhafer HM, Barbero E (2019) An overview of the Onthophagini 
from the Arabian Peninsula (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae). Zootaxa 4658 (1): 
1-36. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4658.1.1 


Appendix | 


List of known lacewings from Saudi Arabia. 


Family Species This study 
Ascalaphidae Ascalaphus dicax Walker, 1853 
Ascalaphidae Ascalaphus festivus (Rambur, 1842) 
Ascalaphidae Aspoeckiella gallagheri Holzel, 2004 
Ascalaphidae Bubopsis hamata (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 
Ascalaphidae Stylascalaphus krueperi (van der Weele, 1909) 
Ascalaphidae Tmesibasis larseni Hélzel, 1983 
Berothidae Nodalla eatoni (McLachlan, 1898) 
Berothidae Nodalla saharica (Esben-Petersen, 1920) 
Berothidae Podallea arabica Aspock & Aspiock, 1981 
Chrysopidae Brinckochrysa alfierti (Navas, 1926) 
Chrysopidae Brinckochrysa chlorosoma (Navas, 1914) 
Chrysopidae Brinckochrysa plagata (Navas, 1929) 
Chrysopidae Chrysemosa andresi (Navas, 1915) 
Chrysopidae Chrysemosa mosconica (Navas, 1931) 
Chrysopidae Chrysemosa sodomensis (H6lzel, 1982) 
Chrysopidae Chrysopa sogdianica McLachlan in Fedchenko, 1875 
Chrysopidae Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens, 1836) + 
Chrysopidae Chrysoperla mutata (McLachlan, 1898) 
Chrysopidae Italochrysa asirensis Holzel, 1980 
Chrysopidae Ttalochrysa bimaculata Holzel, 1980 + 
Chrysopidae Italochrysa pittawayi Holzel, 1988 
Chrysopidae Italochrysa stigmatica (Rambur, 1838) 
Chrysopidae Pseudomallada amseli (Holzel, 1980) 
Chrysopidae Pseudomallada arabicus (Holzel, 1995) 
Chrysopidae Pseudomallada healdi (Navas, 1926) 
Chrysopidae Pseudomallada nicolainus (Navas, 1929) 
Chrysopidae Pseudomallada phlebius (Navas, 1927) 
Chrysopidae Pseudomallada spadix (Hélzel, 1988) 
Chrysopidae Pseudomallada venosus (Rambur, 1838) 
Chrysopidae Suarius alisteri (Navas, 1914) 
Chrysopidae Suarius caviceps (McLachlan, 1898) 


146 


Family 


Chrysopidae 
Chrysopidae 
Chrysopidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Coniopterygidae 
Hemerobiidae 
Hemerobiidae 
Hemerobiidae 
Hemerobiidae 
Hemerobiidae 
Mantispidae 
Mantispidae 
Mantispidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 


Myrmeleontidae 


Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Species 
Suarius gobiensis (Tjeder, 1936) 
Suarius mongolica (Tjeder, 1936) 
Suarius walsinghami walsinghami Navas, 1914 
Aleuropteryx arabica Meinander, 1977 
Aleuropteryx vartianorum Aspoéck & Aspéck, 1967 
Coniopteryx deserta Meinander, 1979 
Coniopteryx mucrogonarcuata Meinander, 1979 
Coniopteryx ressli Rausch & Aspock, 1978 
Coniopteryx venustula Rausch & Aspéck, 1978 
Coniopteryx wittmeri Meinander, 1979 
Cryptoscenea serrata (Meinander, 1979) 
Hemisemidalis pallida (Withycombe, 1924) 
Nimboa macroptera Aspéck & Aspoéck, 1965 
Hemerobius reconditus Navas, 1914 
Micromus sjostedti van der Weele, 1910 
Sympherobius fallax Navas, 1908 
Wesmaelius navasi (Andréu, 1911) 
Wesmaelius saudiarabicus Holzel, 1988 
Afromantispa nana (Erichson, 1839) 
Mantispa aphavexelte Aspock & Aspéck, 1994 
Mantispa scabricollis McLachlan in Fedchenko, 1875 
Acanthaclisis mesopotamica Holzel, 1972 
Bankisus maculosus Holzel, 1983 
Centroclisis cervina (Gerstaecker, 1863) 
Centroclisis distincta (Rambur, 1842) 
Centroclisis speciosa Holzel, 1983 
Creoleon cervinus Holzel, 1983 
Creoleon cinerascens (Navas, 1912) 
Creoleon desertus Hélzel, 1982 
Creoleon elegans Hélzel, 1968 
Creoleon griseus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 
Creoleon neftanus Navas, 1930 
Creoleon neurasthenicus (Navas, 1913) 
Creoleon parvulus Holzel, 1983 
Creoleon persicus Hélzel, 1972 
Creoleon pullus Holzel, 1983 
Creoleon ultimus Holzel, 1983 
Cueta amseli Halzel, 1982 
Cueta asirica Holzel, 1982 
Cueta clara Holzel, 1981 
Cueta divisa (Navas, 1912) 
Cueta genialis Holzel, 1988 
Cueta lineosa (Rambur, 1842) 
Cueta modesta Halzel, 1972 
Cueta pallens (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 
Cueta paula Holzel, 1983 
Cueta pusilla Holzel, 1983 
Cueta striata Kimmins, 1943 
Cueta virgata (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 
Distoleon asiricus Holzel, 1983 
Distoleon laticollis (Navas, 1913) 
Fadrina formosa (Holzel, 1981) 
Ganguilus flavipennis (Navas, 1932) 
Ganguilus oblitus (Navas, 1914) 
Ganguilus pallescens Navas, 1912 
Ganguilus pulchellus (Banks, 1911) 
Gepella modesta Holzel, 1968 


This study 


Family 


Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 


Myrmeleontidae 


Lacewings from Arabian Peninsula 


Species 
Gepus cunctatus Holzel, 1982 
Gepus invisus Navas, 1912 
Geyria arabica Holzel, 1983 
Geyria lepidula (Navas, 1912) 
Geyria pallida Holzel, 1983 
Geyria saharica Esben-Petersen, 1920 
Goniocercus klugi (Kolbe, 1898) 
Goniocercus walkeri (McLachlan, 1894) 
Lranoleon arabicus Holzel, 1982 
Tranoleon darius Holzel, 1972 
Isoleon arabicus Hélzel, 1972 
Lopezus arabicus Holzel, 1972 
Lopezus fedtschenkoi (McLachlan in Fedchenko, 1875) 
Macronemurus delicatulus Morton, 1926 
Mesonemurus harterti Navas, 1919 
Myrmecaelurus acerbus (Walker, 1853) 
Myrmecaelurus laetus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 
Myrmecaelurus lepidus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 
Myrmecaelurus lobatus Navas, 1912 
Myrmecaelurus luridus Holzel, 1983 
Myrmecaelurus obscurus Holzel, 1983 
Myrmecaelurus parvulus Holzel, 1982 
Myrmecaelurus peterseni Kimmins, 1943 
Myrmecaelurus philbyi Kimmins, 1943 
Myrmecaelurus pittawayi Holzel, 1983 
Myrmecaelurus saudiarabicus Holzel, 1982 
Myrmeleon alternans Brullé in Webb & Berthelot, 1839 
Myrmeteon caliginosus Hélzel & Ohm, 1983 
Myrmeleon fasciatus (Navas, 1912) 
Myrmetleon hyalinus Olivier, 1811 
Myrmeleon pellucidus Hélzel, 1988 
Myrmeleon vittatus Olivier, 1811 
Myrmeleon wismanni (Navas, 1936) 
Naya palpalis (Klapalek, 1914) 
Nemoleon secundus (Holzel, 2002) 
Neuroleon amseli Holzel, 1983 
Neuroleon asirensis Hélzel, 1983 
Neuroleon delicatus Holzel, 1983 
Neuroleon erato Hélzel, 1972 
Neuroleon gracilis (Navas, 1926) 
Neuroleon leptaleus (Navas, 1912) 
Neuroleon lugubris (Navas, 1926) 
Neuroleon modestus (Navas, 1912) 
Neuroleon nubilatus (Navas, 1912) 
Neuroleon pardalice (Banks, 1911) 
Neuroleon parvus Kimmins, 1943 
Neuroleon taifensis Kimmins, 1943 
Neuroleon tenellus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 
Neuroleon virgineus Hélzel, 1983 
Noaleon limbatellus (Navas, 1913) 
Nophis flava Holzel, 1972 
Nophis luteus Holzel, 1972 
Nophis teillardi Navas, 1912 
Omoleon jeanneli Navas, 1936 
Palpares angustus McLachlan, 1898 
Palpares cephalotes (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 
Palpares papilionoides (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 


This study 


147 


148 


Family 


Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Myrmeleontidae 
Nemopteridae 

Nemopteridae 

Nemopteridae 

Nemopteridae 

Nemopteridae 


Nemopteridae 


Nemopteridae 
Nemopteridae 
Nemopteridae 
Nemopteridae 
Nemopteridae 
Sisyridae 

Sisyridae 


Agostino Letardi et al. / ZooKeys 936: 111-148 (2020) 


Species 
Palpares venustus Hélzel, 1988 
Parapalpares dispar (Navas, 1912) 
Phanoclisis longicollis (Rambur, 1842) 
Pseudoformicaleo gracilis (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834) 
Quinemurus cinereus Kimmins, 1943 
Solter buettikeri Hilzel, 1982 
Solter hardei Holzel, 1968 
Solter pallidus Hélzel, 1982 
Solter parvulus Hélzel, 1988 
Solter propheticus Hélzel, 1980 
Solter tenellus Holzel, 1988 
Solter vartianae Holzel, 1967 
Solter virgilii Navas, 1931 
Solter wittmeri Holzel, 1982 
Stenares irroratus Navas, 1912 
Subgulina lineata (Navas, 1913) 
Syngenes arabicus Kimmins, 1943 
Tomatarella markli Kimmins, 1952 
Afghanocroce vartianorum Holzel, 1968 
Croce aristata (Klug, 1838) 
Croce schmidti (Navas, 1927) 
Dielocroce baudii (Griffini, 1895) 
Dielocroce berlandi (Navas, 1936) 
Dielocroce chobauti (McLachlan, 1898) 
Dielocroce elegans (Alexandrov-Martynov, 1930) 
Dielocroce necrosia (Navas, 1913) 
Halter halteratus (Forskal, 1775) 
Halter nutans Navas, 1910 
Necrophylus arenarius Roux, 1833 
Sisyra nigra (Retzius, 1783) 
Sisyra nilotica Vjeder, 1957 


Key: + species is recorded in the current study. 


This study